Columbus Schools’ Partnership Program Offers A Variety Of Programs For Students

The Columbus Schools ’ partnership programs will continue into the 2006-2007 school year. These programs are conducted jointly with Columbus Schools and local and state universities, colleges, academic organizations, community organizations and area volunteers. The programs are wide ranging and cover lots of different subjects and grade levels.
Columbus Schools’ Art Ventures Partnership Program
The Art Ventures Partnership Program is a program that jointly works with Columbus Schools’ elementary schools and The Wexner Center for the Arts. This program was created primarily for the fourth grade students and fourth grade teachers and all elementary school arts teachers. As a part of the program, fourth grade students will visit the Wexner Center for the Arts three times per school year. Each visit will focus on a different art program including visual arts and performing arts. There will also be lessons created by the Wexner Center for the Arts that include studio activities and interactive tours. The employees of the Wexner Center for the Arts will visit the Columbus Schools’ classrooms to prepare students and teachers prepare for visits and lessons. The Wexner Center for the Arts started the program in 1993 and now works with 45 elementary schools. The Wexner Center for the Arts aims to give the schools with connections to their regular curriculum. The Arts Venture Program provides students with an understanding the purpose and need for arts in society and can point out examples of art embedded in our environment.
Columbus Schools’ Global School Bus
The Global School Bus Partnership Program is a joint cooperation between Columbus Schools’ Mifflin Alternative and Ohio State University’s Office of International Affairs. This program brings an international connection to the prekinder- 12 classrooms. The Global School Bus Partnership Program uses presentations and hand-on activities about cultures from around the world. The countries that have been included in the program in past years are: France, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, India, Taiwan, British West Indies, England, Italy, Bolivia, Greece, Mongolia, Ecuador, Chile, Japan, Quebec, Nepal, Ireland, Spain, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroon, Germany, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, East Africa, Tanzania, and Indonesia. The project has citizens and experts from these and other countries share information on a variety of topics, including music, food, dance, customs and lifestyles, biodiversity, calligraphy, climate, international affairs, schools, and education with students in their classrooms.
Columbus Schools’ Buckeye Mentoring Hub
This partnership program is a large program that involves Columbus Schools’ members Como Elementary, Cranbrook Elementary, Crestview Middle School, Hubbard Elementary, Indianola Middle School, Whetstone High School; The Mentoring Center; the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ohio; and Ohio State University students. The project gives Ohio State students with a real opportunity to apply some of the educational strategies they study. Students will work with urban students who need to work on their leadership skills and negotiation skills. Mentoring is a great way for students to deal with youth violence. Started in 2004, the Buckeye Mentoring Hub has recruited, trained, and placed over 300 Ohio State student mentors with students in the Columbus Schools.